CST 349 - Week 4 Learning Journal

 Part One: Set your Educational Goals

My primary educational goal in CS program is to develop a string and practical mastery of core CS concepts, including algorithms, programming languages, software engineering, and systems. I envision myself confidently solving algorithmic problems, understanding complex system architectures, and applying discrete mathematics to real-world challenges. I want to graduate with a skill set that allows me to design efficient software solutions, analyze problems from multiple perspectives, and communicate technical ideas clearly. I hope to excel on the capstone projects, future internships and collaborative environments by applying the knowledge I have gained. Beyond the CS program, I plan to continue to learn through a masters program and certificate programs. I also plan to continue learning in emerging areas such as AI, ML, and cybersecurity. 


Part Two: Set your Career Goals

A mathematical engineer / data engineer job after graduation in Spring of 2027. A Master's candidate of class of 2030. 


Part Three: Take a wild guess of your percentile of the ETS Computer Science Test

After reviewing the test and practicing a few sample questions, I feel optimistic. I recognize that there are core concepts that I have not learned yet in my CS journey, however the ones I have learned I was confidently able to apply my knowledge and answer the questions. I also noticed that the test covers broad range of areas from math to databases to networking and more. If I take this exam in 18 months, I would hope to hit the 75th percentile or higher. I would think that I would have a great strength in my programming skills by then. With a disciple study and practice schedule, I believe I can achieve the goal of 75th percentile score. 


Part Four: Keep up with your Learning Journal

From this week's readings and learning, I have noticed how having goals and aspirations provides motivation and direction for academic and professional growth. It was also exciting to see the few classes I have taken have helped me successfully answer a few of the question on the ETS test. This weeks learning reinforced the importance of connecting daily learning habits to long-term educational and career goals. 



Comments

  1. Tim ShakerOctober 6, 2025 at 11:10 AM

    Hi Chanroop, thanks for sharing some of your academic interests in this blog post. I'm also considering studying for a master's degree in the future, and will probably continue learning about AI, ML, and cybersecurity. Planning on taking a course to prepare for the CompTIA CySA+ exam next semester with Coastline College, and there is also a class called "AI Apps in Cybersecurity" that you may find interesting. Good luck with your studies!

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  2. Rose Arias-AcevesOctober 7, 2025 at 7:23 PM

    Hello Chanroop, I was previously interested in security and I had my security+ back during 2022. Something that I found out pretty quickly however, is that cybersecurity, or any area of tech really, is expansive! I recommend looking at what jobs are out there, then you'll have a narrow and actionable goal to aim for.



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